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One killed, another critically injured in multi-vehicle crash Highways 7/71 south of Willmar on Saturday

BLOMKEST -- A 29-year old Redwood Falls man died and six other people were injured, one critically, in a multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 71 and Minnesota Highway 7 at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday when an SUV driven by a juvenile went through a signal light.

The Minnesota State Patrol identified the deceased as Justin Gustafson.

The driver in the same vehicle, John Gustafson, 50, of Redwood Falls, was reported in critical condition at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Five other people were transported to Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar for non-life threatening injuries.

The chain-reaction accident occurred when a 2011 Ford Escape XLT eastbound on Highway 7 failed to stop for the signal light. It struck a 2011 Ford SRW Super Duty pickup truck which rolled into a 2001 Lincoln Town Car and a 2004 Volkswagon Beetle GL, according to information from the State Patrol office in St. Cloud.

The Patrol state Sunday stated that it could not release the name of the driver of the Ford Escape since the person was a juvenile. Two passengers in the Ford Escape, Lisa Sharp, 44, and her daughter Julie Sharp, 11, both of Milbank, S.D., were transported to Rice Memorial Hospital.

The 2011 Ford pickup struck at the intersection was driven by Lyle Jahnke, 71, of Olivia. He and his passenger Carol Jahnke, 71, were transported to Rice Memorial Hospital.

The pickup rolled over a 2001 Lincoln Town Car, driven by John Gustafson. His passengers included the deceased, Justin Gustafson, and Patricia Gustafson, 59. She was transported to Rice Memorial Hospital.

The fourth vehicle involved in the crash was a 2004 VW Beetle driven by David Castillo, 45, of Olivia. He along with passengers Theresa Castillo, 47, and Jaime Hegg, 34, of Arlington Heights, Ill., suffered no apparent injuries.

The Ford Escape, Ford Super Duty and Lincoln Town Car were totaled in the accident, while the Volkswagon Beetle sustained minor damage.